By now you've probably read about the 18 Representatives who wrote to the White House arguing against new buffer zones that would protect endangered salmon from pesticides. While it certainly isn't uncommon to see elected officials siding with special interests over environmental protection, it still disappoints us each and every time. Especially in a case like this where the science behind the new rules is so abundantly clear: pesticides are harming these fish. This issue of the NCAP Action News brings you our response to the groundless claims criticizing these new protections. But that's not all...

You'll want to mark your calendars. Things are coming up that you don't want to miss: the deadline for EQIP project grants in March, visiting author events in April, and the last day to register to win ski lift tickets through NCAP's online giving raffle one week from today! 2011's Public Interest Environmental Law Conference is also right around the corner, and this year promises to be one of the best.

Remember to check in with us through our blog at www.pesticide.org/the-buzz for latest goings on, including our coverage of a new grassroots campaign for pesticide-free parks that's gaining momentum in Idaho.

House Natural Resources Chair, Rep. Doc Hastings and 17 other House members have taken a stance against new buffer zones that would protect endangered salmon from pesticides. In a letter they sent to the White House Council on Environmental Quality in late January, the group argued that new restrictions on pesticide use "...fail(s) to include the best scientific and commercial data..." They also claimed that the process was concluded without adequate public comment.

NCAP would like to point out that not only are the new buffers based on actual data showing that organophosphate and carbamate pesticides have lethal and sublethal impacts on salmon and steelhead, but that they also result from a stakeholder process that has been more than generous with regard to input from chemical and agribusiness interests.

As Steve Meshuda from Earthjustice put it, "These complaints aren’t really about process – they’re about the fact that NMFS followed the best science and that the industry didn’t get its way. There has been public notice and comment on drafts of each of these biological opinions. Not only did the pesticide industry take full advantage of that opportunity to present its views, there were extensive meetings between NOAA, EPA, and the pesticide industry during the consultations. ”

Since their initial push in January, Pesticide Action Network of Blaine County (PAN BC) has brought their call for safer parks and schools to two additional cities, as well as the Blaine county school district. They’ve also created a draft integrated pest management (IPM) policy for the city of Ketchum, and all while conducting a major public outreach effort involving local landscaping companies. Their goal: to eliminate pesticide uses in public areas by implementing ecological alternatives.

Next on the agenda, PAN BC will facilitate a community meeting on February 24 with at least 20 representatives from local landscaping companies, local governments, and others to improve the draft policy for it’s first hearing at the city, as well as future use at a county level.

Organic farmers – take notice – applications for the US Department of Agriculture’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – Organic Initiative are due next month.

The program also supports farmers transitioning to organic!

USDA has allocated $50 million to this program, which provides financial and technical assistance to growers to implement conservation practices like cover cropping, pest management, crop rotation, stream buffers, hedgerow planting, and various other practices.

Be sure to check with your local office again this year, even though you may have checked out the program in the past and determined your farm did not fit.

NCAP and our partner organizations in the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition have been working to improve implementation of the program, practices offered, and payment rates. For instance, Idaho NRCS will now offer the high tunnel pilot project and support composting facilities, mulches (organic, vegetative, fabric), and other practices.

Environmental scientist and writer, Benjamin Ross, is coming to Oregon to discuss his new book, The Polluters, co-authored with Steven Amter.

The Polluters sets out to illuminate the close relationship between chemical industry, pollution and government as it took shape over the 20th century. Building on the idea of regulatory capture, the book presents a detailed look at the penetrating influence that the chemical industry has had upon those who would seek to regulate it. It also unveils the roots of the American movement to protect the environment and public health. Often traced to the 1960s and 1970s, Ross shows that the movement actually extends as far back as 1901 and the Teddy Roosevelt administration.

In the words of Lois Gibbs, The Polluters is, "...a must for any activist who wants to understand the strategies these polluters used to continue business as usual."

Benjamin Ross is President of the Washington consulting firm, Disposal Safety, Inc. He is both an environmental scientist and commentator on current affairs, and has served on committees of the National Academy of Sciences and the USEPA Science Advisory Board.

Alternatives in Action

NCAP will begin work with the Housing Authority of Portland (HAP) next month to address issues including bed bug infestation while also improving practices by eliminating uses of pesticides in affordable housing. Over the course of 2011, this will form a large part of our work to promote IPM in urban areas.

If you work in a park, school, housing complex, or any urban area where pesticides are commonly used, consider joining us on SPIN to connect with peers from your field and learn innovative strategies to eliminate pesticide uses.

NCAP needs your help! We have an opportunity to win a $5,000 prize through the Winter 2011 GuideStar-KIMBIA Nonprofit Giveaway. This generous gift would enable us to make significant progress toward this years goals for pesticide reform!

All you have to do is write a quick review about us on Guidestar. Your review will appear in our profile on both GuideStar and GreatNonprofits, GuideStar’s partner that makes it possible to write and post reviews. There is no charge for writing a review, but you are limited to posting only one for each organization.

The giveaway begins on February 1, 2011, and ends at 11:59 pm EDT, February 28, 2011. GuideStar USA, Inc., is a leading source for nonprofit information. KIMBIA works to empower nonprofits and other organizations to increase giving.

PIELC 2011

Dr. Vandana Shiva
Sunday, March 6, 12:30 pm

NCAP is a proud participant in the 2011 Public Interest Environmental Law Conference. The conference will be held from Thursday, March 3 through Sunday, March 6 at the University of Oregon School of Law.

A lot of us here in the northwest have a certain affinity for the outdoors. By far, Jason Blake is no exception.

Growing up in Kentucky, Jason spent much of his time camping and fishing. These experiences instilled in him, at a young age, a great appreciation for nature and an understanding of how important it is to live in balance with the natural world. This formed the foundation for his commitment to environmental work, which became all the more urgent when he saw the devastation from mountain-top removal mining in Eastern Kentucky and throughout Appalachia.

In the early 2000s, Jason went to work as a community organizer, working in Indiana on energy efficiency issues as well as in Michigan on organic agriculture. He then joined the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance with whom he helped to establish the 16,030 acre Sabiñoso Wilderness Area (also Sabinoso), only the second wilderness established in New Mexico in over 20 years.

Jason visited Eugene in 2009 and got to know NCAP through a job interview. When he moved here the following year to take a job with the Western Environmental Law Center as their Administrative & Development Assistant, he became involved with NCAP as a volunteer and monthly donor.

"Pesticide use has such an impact on the environment," Jason says. "It's a huge issue for me."

The Ladybug Lovely: A Lovely Way to Support NCAP

Ladybugs are a great way to defend against invading aphids in your garden. They are a powerful force in reducing the use of pesticides. The same is true for members of NCAP’s Ladybug Lovely.

The Ladybug Lovely is made up of a special group of members that agree to make on-going credit card or electronic fund transfer donations on a monthly basis to help advance alternatives to pesticides and reduce pesticide use. It is the backbone of our support because it provides us with a dependable source of revenue which will enable NCAP to work harder to protect the health of people and the environment.

With the USDA's recent deregulation of genetically modified alfalfa, and an expected approval of engineered salmon soon to come from congress, GM food commodities are now on everyone's minds as well as their plates.

Thankfully, there are ample ways to get in touch with your elected officials and tell them how you feel. Organic Consumer's Association'sMillions Against Monsanto campaign has made it easy for you to contact your legislators on every imaginable issue having to do with GMOs.

In addition to being the international symbol for St. Patrick, or in four-leaf cases a sign of good luck, clover is a key food source for many kinds of butterfly larvae. It's also gaining popularity in some circles as an ecological lawn alternative that requires little care and that feels great on bare feet.

Still, there are plenty who prefer grass. If that's you, see our short video explaining clover in lawns and some of things you can do to manage it without chemicals.

Yes, Buffalo Exchange will be supporting NCAP by accepting in-store donations from January through June 2011.

How does it work? Through their Tokens for Bags program, Buffalo Exchange awards a five cent token to those customers who opt out of plastic bags at check out. For the first half of 2011, you can tell your cashier that you'd like to donate your token to NCAP!